Sunday, January 27, 2008

We would like to see Jesus

Do you wish to see Jesus? Do you truly wish to see Him? How badly do you long to be in His presence? Do you seek Him as desperately as your lungs seek for air? John 12:20-26 tells the story of a several Greeks who came seeking Jesus. So how does one find Jesus?

  1. Desire for Jesus - Desire for Jesus doesn't come unless you're desperately yearning for Him. What is your request when you come into the presence of God? Do you find yourselves asking for specific prayers to be answered? Are you truly asking to be in His presence or do you seek Him as a gateway of getting what you want? The Lord looks for those who seek Him in earnest.
  2. Death like Jesus - In v23-24, Jesus draws a metaphor of how when the wheat dies, it gives birth to new seeds. Anyone who seeks God must realize that revelation only comes to those willing to die like Christ. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice and bear the cross for our sins so that we don't have too. In return we are called to carry out own cross and die ourselves every day. So how does one die every day? We die by willing to sacrifice aspects of our lives which hinder our spiritual walk with God. Whether it is good or bad, when the time comes and the Holy Spirit asks you to give up something, will you be able to bear that cross? For Jesus died to give birth to many new seeds, not fruit. He wants us to become seeds ourselves so that we in turn will bear fruit.
  3. Devotion to Jesus - V25-25 states "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." Devotion to God centers around two principles.
    (a) Kingdom Principle - You cannot love both this world and the kingdom of God. A servant cannot serve two masters. If you become too entangled in this world, you will become too blinded to see the Lord.
    (b) Discipleship Principle - Our ultimate role is to serve. One of the biggest reasons for our failures in our spiritual walk is due to our failure to serve. If you do not give back what was blessed to you, it will ultimately rot and rust away. Furthermore, when given the opportunity, you will no longer be able to.

Purify your desires for the Lord, be willing to die like Jesus, and pledge your devotion by committing to life of servitude. Because we too would like to see Jesus.

--from Nakwon EM January 27th 2008 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

Tropicana > Minute Maid. True Story...

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

How Grace Works

Luke 15:11-24 chronicles the parable of the lost son. This famous story serves as a beautiful analogy for describing how the Grace of God work in our lives. For we are all prodigal sons who did not deserve our Father's grace.
  1. Grace begins with a choice - God will never force His will onto you. He has given us the power to offend Him, and chooses to give us the opportunity to reject Him. Why is it so easy for us to fall away from God? Why is it we always think God is trying to "hold" something back from us?
  2. Grace brings despair - If you ever find yourself feeling the urge to get away, then you know you've fallen. The ironic thing is that ultimately is our sins that cage us in our own spiritual frustration
  3. Grace breaks all delusions
  4. Grace bestows abundantly - The Lord's grace is far more than we expect and deserve. In the parable, when the son finally returns the father bestows upon him four gifts. Each gifts symbolizes a different aspect of His Grace.
    (a) robe - protection & authority
    (b) ring - power, prestige
    (c) sandals - recognition
    (d) feast - absolute acceptance, forgiveness

--from Nakwon EM Janurary 6th 2008 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

help! I'm too fat to leave this room....

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

A New Thing : Meaning of Redemption

The feeling of "new" helps us forget the old, it's an opportunity for a second chance. Isaiah 43:18-21 talks about the meaning of Godly redemption. this concept of redeeming or purchasing us back from our sins.
  1. Clean Slate - The concept of Godly forgetfulness. It's not that God has forgotten what the we've done in the past, but rather He has chosen to let us start over. What regrets do you bear? God's promise is that His view of you now will not be tainted by you past
  2. Clear Vision - This is a promise that HE will give a Godly anchored perspective. What may seem to you as a disaster now, God will use as a way of deliverance
  3. Confident Testimony - In the moment of you spiritual dryness the works God does in your life will server as a living testimony for non-believers. Will you allow God to empower you life?
  4. Committed Calling - The principle of God give purpose. Do you have a purpose? In order for God to work in your life, you must leave whatever is holding you back. Whether it is regrets, our comforts, or any other dependencies, they serve as a metaphoric cage preventing you for progressing forward.

--from Nakwon EM December 30th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim